Papers of Leslie Scalapino, Bay Area poet, scholar, experimental prose writer and founding editor of O Books, an Oakland, California publisher. The collection contains correspondence with other prominent poets and writers; typescripts of published and unpublished literary works including collaborative projects and talks given at various conferences. The papers also include production materials for books published by O Books; audio and videorecordings of spoken word events and play performances; and miscellaneous biographical material including interviews, photographs, and reading announcement flyers.

Leslie Scalapino was born in Santa Barbara, California, in 1944 to singer Dee Jessen and political science professor Robert Scalapino, founder of UC Berkeley's Institute for Asian Studies. Because of her father's academic focus in the politics of Asia, Scalapino traveled thoughout Asia, Africa, and Europe at an early age. Her later work reflects some influence from these travels including meditation on Zen writing and Tibetan philosophy. In the 1960s, she attended Reed College, graduating in 1966. Her graduate studies in writing continued at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned a M.A. in English (1969), after which she began to focus on writing poetry.

44.27 Linear feet 110 archives boxes and 2 oversize folders

Publishing rights are held by the creator of the collection.